The New Zealand dollar rose to its highest level in about three months after surprisingly weak US employment data on Friday sent the greenback lower and raised doubts about any further Federal Reserve rate hikes after the one expected next week.
The kiwi rose to 71.34 US cents, and earlier touched 71.49 cents, from 71.18 cents late yesterday. The trade-weighted index rose to 76.94 from 76.53 on Friday, before the three-day Queen's Birthday public holiday.
The US economy added 138,000 jobs in May, less than the 182,000 expected by economists, while little wage inflation was evident. Average hourly earnings rose 2.5 per cent in May from a year earlier, slightly less than the 2.6 per cent gain expected. Meanwhile, the US non-manufacturing ISM came in at 56.9 last month, missing expectations for 57.1. The US dollar index tumbled after the jobs data was released and has remained lower so far this week.
"Friday's disappointing US jobs report has seen broad-based USD weakness with the NZD consolidating close to 0.7150," traders at HiFX said in a note. "The key domestic driver for the NZD this week is likely to be tonight's GDT auction while this afternoon's RBA rate statement should dictate direction for the NZD/AUD cross rate."
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